U.S. patent application number 15/073662 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-22 for endoscope.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUJIFILM Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is FUJIFILM Corporation. Invention is credited to Teruyuki EMURA, Sunao HACHISUKA, Masayuki IWASAKA.
Application Number | 20160270636 15/073662 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56852826 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160270636 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
IWASAKA; Masayuki ; et
al. |
September 22, 2016 |
ENDOSCOPE
Abstract
Since a lower-surface side opening of an elevator housing slit
is closed by a partition wall portion of a cap in normal operation,
and a rotating shaft receiving portion of an elevator has a
rotating shaft housing groove opened on the side opposite to the
lower surface when the elevator is attached to a distal end portion
body, the elevator is not removed structurally at an angle of the
elevator when the treatment tool is operated to be stood, and a
rotating shaft and the rotating shaft receiving portion do not have
to be attached excessively tightly. Therefore, a work load in
disassembling and assembling of a distal end portion can be set
appropriately, and workability in disassembling and assembling is
improved. Moreover, as a result, the distal end portion can be
cleaned rapidly and easily.
Inventors: |
IWASAKA; Masayuki;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; EMURA; Teruyuki; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; HACHISUKA; Sunao; (Kanagawa, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FUJIFILM Corporation |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
FUJIFILM Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
56852826 |
Appl. No.: |
15/073662 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 1/0011 20130101;
A61B 1/00137 20130101; A61B 1/00098 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 1/018 20060101
A61B001/018; A61B 1/00 20060101 A61B001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 20, 2015 |
JP |
2015-058350 |
Claims
1. An endoscope, comprising: an insertion portion which has a
distal end and a proximal end; an operation portion which is
provided on a proximal end side of the insertion portion and
includes an operating member; a distal end portion body which is
provided on a distal end side of the insertion portion, and has a
front surface being a surface in a longitudinal direction of the
insertion portion, an upper surface being a surface in a direction
in which a treatment tool is led out with respect to the
longitudinal direction, and a lower surface being a surface on a
side opposite to the upper surface with respect to the longitudinal
direction; an elevator which is rotatably provided on the distal
end portion body; a rotating shaft provided with an axis and
configured to rotate the elevator around the axis, wherein a cross
section perpendicular to a direction of the axis has a non-circular
shape; a rotating shaft receiving portion which is provided on the
elevator and has a rotating shaft housing groove opened to a side
opposite to the lower surface when the elevator is attached to the
distal end portion body; an elevator erecting mechanism which
rotates the rotating shaft; an operation wire which has a
proximal-end-side coupling portion coupled to the operating member
and a distal-end-side coupling portion coupled to the elevator
erecting mechanism, the operation configured to rotate the rotating
shaft to recline or erect the elevator by being pushed or pulled by
an operation of the operating member; an elevator housing slit
which is provided on the distal end portion body and forms a space
portion housing the elevator, the elevator housing slit including
an opening on a side of the upper surface, on a side of the lower
surface and on a side of the front surface; and a cap detachably
provided on the distal end portion body, the cap which includes an
opening window which opens a part of the opening on the side of the
upper surface and a partition wall portion which closes a part of
the opening on the side of the lower surface in a state in which
the cap is attached to the distal end portion body, wherein in a
state in which the cap is attached to the distal end portion body,
assuming a thickness between a first bottom surface of the rotating
shaft housing groove in the rotating shaft receiving portion, the
first bottom surface being a surface on a side of the upper surface
and a second bottom surface faced with the lower surface of the
distal end portion body is "a", a gap distance between the rotating
shaft and the partition wall portion of the cap is "b", a depth of
the rotating shaft housing groove in a direction connecting the
upper surface and the lower surface is "c", and a proximal end side
thickness of the rotating shaft receiving portion is "d", following
conditional expressions (1) to (3) are satisfied: a<b (1)
a+c>b (2) b>d (3).
2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein: the elevator
erecting mechanism includes an elevator erecting lever coupled to
the rotating shaft; the distal-end-side coupling portion of the
operation wire is coupled to the elevator erecting lever; and the
operation wire rotates the rotating shaft to recline or erect the
elevator through the elevator erecting lever by being pushed or
pulled by an operation of the operating member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-058350, filed on
Mar. 20, 2015. Each of the above application(s) is hereby expressly
incorporated by reference, in their entirety, into the present
application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an endoscope and
particularly to a structure of a distal end portion of an endoscope
provided with an elevator (forceps elevator) for a treatment tool
and an elevating mechanism (elevator erecting mechanism) for the
elevator.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Regarding the endoscope, various treatment tools are
inserted into a treatment-tool entry port provided on an operation
portion and they are led out of the treatment-tool exit port opened
in the distal end portion and used for treatment. The treatment
tools such as a guide wire, a contrast medium tube and the like are
used for a duodenoscopy, puncture needles for an ultrasonic
endoscope, and forceps, snares and the like for a direct-viewing
endoscope or a side-viewing endoscope, for example. These treatment
tools need to change a derivation direction at the distal end
portion in order to treat a desired position in a subject, and
thus, a treatment-tool elevating mechanism (forceps elevator,
hereinafter referred to as an "elevator") is provided on the distal
end portion.
[0006] As such the treatment-tool elevating mechanisms, a mechanism
in which a wire is attached to the elevator and extended to a
proximal end side of the endoscope, is known. In the mechanism, the
elevator is rotated around a rotating shaft by pushing and pulling
operation of the wire with an operation lever provided on the
operation portion so as to change a position of the elevator
between an erecting position and a reclining position. Moreover, a
mechanism (lever type) in which the rotating shaft of the elevator
is coupled with a housed lever through a partition wall, and the
wire is attached to the lever is also known. In the mechanism, the
elevator is rotated around the rotating shaft by means of the
pushing and pulling operation of the wire with the operation lever
provided on the operation portion so as to change the position of
the elevator between the erecting position and the reclining
position.
[0007] The distal end portion provided with such a treatment-tool
elevating mechanism has a complicated shape and structure and thus,
improvement of washing performances such as wraparound of a
disinfectant, insertion of a washing brush (reachability of a tip
end of the brush) or drainage and ease of a washing work are in
demand. Conventionally an endoscope having a cap on the distal end
portion and a detachable elevator is known (see Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open No. 6-315458, for example). In this type of
endoscope, the cap and the elevator are removed after treatment,
and the distal end portion is cleaned.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] However, in the conventional endoscope described in Japanese
Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-315458, an erecting pin and an
erecting pin slot are opened on a proximal end side of the distal
end portion and thus, there is a concern that the elevator comes
off to a distal end side during an operation depending on a degree
of slotting. In order to prevent it, the slotting of the erecting
pin needs to be set tightly. However, since the elevator is so
small that a large force cannot be applied easily when attaching
and detaching the elevator, if slotting is made too tight,
workability of dissembling and assembling of the distal end portion
becomes poor.
[0009] The present invention was made in view of such circumstances
and aims to provide an endoscope which has a favorable workability
at the time of dissembling and assembling of the distal end
portion.
[0010] In order to achieve the aforementioned object, an endoscope
according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: an
insertion portion which has a distal end and a proximal end; an
operation portion which is provided on a proximal end side of the
insertion portion and includes an operating member; a distal end
portion body which is provided on a distal end side of the
insertion portion, and has a front surface being a surface in a
longitudinal direction of the insertion portion, an upper surface
being a surface in a direction in which a treatment tool is led out
with respect to the longitudinal direction, and a lower surface
being a surface on a side opposite to the upper surface with
respect to the longitudinal direction; an elevator which is
rotatably provided on the distal end portion body; a rotating shaft
provided with an axis and configured to rotate the elevator around
the axis, wherein a cross section perpendicular to a direction of
the axis has a non-circular shape; a rotating shaft receiving
portion which is provided on the elevator and has a rotating shaft
housing groove opened to a side opposite to the lower surface when
the elevator is attached to the distal end portion body; an
elevator erecting mechanism which rotates the rotating shaft; an
operation wire which has a proximal-end-side coupling portion
coupled to the operating member and a distal-end-side coupling
portion coupled to the elevator erecting mechanism, the operation
wire configured to rotate the rotating shaft to recline or erect
the elevator by being pushed or pulled by an operation of the
operating member; an elevator housing slit which is provided on the
distal end portion body and forms a space portion housing the
elevator, the elevator housing slit including an opening on a side
of the upper surface, on a side of the lower surface and on a side
of the front surface; and a cap detachably provided on the distal
end portion body, the cap which includes an opening window which
opens a part of the opening on the side of the upper surface and a
partition wall portion which closes a part of the opening on the
side of the lower surface in a state in which the cap is attached
to the distal end portion body, wherein in a state in which the cap
is attached to the distal end portion body, assuming a thickness
between a first bottom surface of the rotating shaft housing groove
in the rotating shaft receiving portion, the first bottom surface
being a surface on a side of the upper surface and a second bottom
surface faced with the lower surface of the distal end portion body
is "a", a gap distance between the rotating shaft and the partition
wall portion of the cap is "b", a depth of the rotating shaft
housing groove in a direction connecting the upper surface and the
lower surface is "c", and a proximal end side thickness of the
rotating shaft receiving portion is "d", following conditional
expressions (1) to (3) are satisfied:
a<b (1)
a+c>b (2)
b>d (3).
[0011] The term "proximal end side thickness (thickness on the side
of the proximal end)" for the rotating shaft receiving portion
refers to a distance from a side wall surface on the proximal end
side of the rotating shaft housing groove to the proximal end of
the elevator.
[0012] According to the first aspect of the present invention, a
part of the opening on a side of the lower surface is closed by the
partition wall portion of the cap in normal use, and the rotating
shaft receiving portion of the elevator has the rotating shaft
housing groove opened on the side opposite to the lower surface
when the elevator is attached to the distal end portion body.
Therefore, the elevator is not removed (comes off) structurally at
an angle of the elevator when the treatment tool is operated to
erect, and the rotating shaft and the rotating shaft receiving
portion do not have to be attached excessively tightly. Therefore,
a work load in disassembling and assembling of the distal end
portion can be set appropriately, and workability in disassembling
and assembling is improved. Moreover, as a result, the distal end
portion can be cleaned rapidly and easily.
[0013] An endoscope according to a second aspect is so constituted
that, in the first aspect, the elevator erecting mechanism includes
an elevator erecting lever coupled to the rotating shaft, the
distal-end-side coupling portion of the operation wire is coupled
to the elevator erecting lever, and the operation wire rotates the
rotating shaft to recline or erect the elevator through the
elevator erecting lever by being pushed or pulled by an operation
of the operating member.
[0014] The second aspect shows one aspect of an elevator erecting
mechanism.
[0015] As described above, according to the endoscope of the
present invention, workability at the time of disassembling and
assembling of the distal end portion is favorable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an entire configuration of an
endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of
a distal end portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment
of the present invention;
[0018] FIGS. 3A and 3B are views illustrating a distal end portion
of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the present
invention, in which FIG. 3A is a view illustrating a state when
seen from a distal end direction, and FIG. 3B is a view
illustrating a state when seen from above;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a state in which an elevator
erecting lever and an elevator are connected in the endoscope
according to the embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIGS. 5A and 5B are views illustrating a shape of the
elevator erecting lever in the endoscope according to the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a shape of an elevator in the
endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a distal end portion
in a state in which the elevator erecting lever and the elevator
are connected in the endoscope according to the embodiment of the
present invention;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view of the sectional view
illustrated in FIG. 7;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a state in which the distal
end portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the
present invention is seen from a side surface direction (elevator
erecting lever side);
[0025] FIG. 10 is another view illustrating a state in which the
distal end portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment of
the present invention is seen from the side surface direction;
[0026] FIG. 11 is still another view illustrating a state in which
the distal end portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment
is seen from the side surface direction of the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a stopper
mechanism of the elevator provided on an operation portion of the
endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 13 is a view illustrating an example of the elevator
according to another invention;
[0029] FIG. 14 is a view illustrating another example of the
elevator according to another invention; and
[0030] FIG. 15 is a view illustrating still another example of the
elevator according to another invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0031] An endoscope according to the present invention will be
described below by referring to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 is a
view illustrating an entire configuration of the endoscope 10
according to the first embodiment.
First Embodiment
Entire Configuration of Endoscope
[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the endoscope 10 includes an
insertion portion 12 to be inserted into the body of a subject, and
an operation portion 14 is coupled with a proximal end side of the
insertion portion 12. To the operation portion 14, a universal cord
16 is connected, and the endoscope 10 is connected to a light
source device, not shown, an image processing device (processor)
and the like through this universal cord 16.
<Entire Configuration of Insertion Portion>
[0033] The insertion portion 12 is constituted by sequentially
connecting a distal end portion 12a, a bending portion 12b, and a
flexible portion 12c from the distal end side toward the proximal
end side (operation portion 14 side). On a farthest proximal end
side of the flexible portion 12c, a boot (boot member) for the
insertion portion 12 is provided.
<Configuration of Operation Portion>
[0034] In the operation portion 14, an angle knob 18 which performs
a bending operation of the bending portion 12b, an operation lever
20 which displaces (erects or reclines) the elevator 46 (see FIGS.
2, 4 and 6 to 11), an air/water supply button 21a which jets air,
water and the like from an air/water supply nozzle provided on the
distal end of the insertion portion 12, an suction button 21b and
the like are provided. The operation lever 20 is an example of the
operating member which operates the elevator. On the insertion
portion 12 side of the operation portion 14, a treatment-tool entry
port 22 into which various treatment tools such as forceps is
inserted, is provided.
[0035] Moreover, in accordance with the operation of the air/water
supply button 21a, air or water is supplied from an air/water
supplying device built in the light source device, not shown, and
is injected from the air/water supply nozzle toward an observation
window 36 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). On the other hand, in accordance
with the operation of the suction button 21b, suction is performed
through an opening, not shown, provided on the distal end portion
12a. The distal end of the treatment tool inserted into the
treatment-tool entry port 22 is led out from the opening of the
distal end portion 12a through a forceps channel, not shown,
communicating with the treatment-tool entry port 22, and a
direction of the treatment tool can be changed by displacing
(erecting or reclining) the elevator 46 by operating the operation
lever 20.
<Configuration of Flexible Portion>
[0036] The flexible portion 12c has a configuration in which: the
innermost side is a spiral tube formed by spirally braiding a thin
band-shaped plate with elasticity on the innermost side, the spiral
tube is then covered with a net-like body that is woven from a
metal wire and fitted with a metal cap at both ends thereof to form
a tubular body; the outer peripheral surface of the tubular body is
laminated with an outer skin formed of resin.
<Configuration of Bending Portion>
[0037] The bending portion 12b has a configuration in which: a
structural body is constituted by rotatably coupling angle rings,
not shown, with each other; an outer periphery of this structural
body is covered by a mesh body obtained by braiding a metal wire;
and the mesh body is further covered by an outer skin made of
rubber. Moreover, a plurality of wires, not shown, are extended
from the angle knob 18 of the operation portion 14 to the bending
portion 12b, and distal end portions of these wires are fixed to
the distal end portions of the angle rings constituting the bending
portion 12b. As a result, in accordance with the operation of the
angle knob 18, the bending portion 12b is bent vertically and
horizontally.
<Configuration of Distal End Portion>
[0038] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
structure of the distal end portion 12a according to this
embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the distal end portion 12a
has a cap 32 covering a distal end portion body (body of the distal
end portion) 30. In the cap 32, an opening window 32A which opens
an opening portion (opening) 38a on the upper surface side of an
elevator housing slit 38 (see FIGS. 2 to 4) and a partition wall
portion 32B which closes an opening portion 38c on the lower
surface side are formed, in a state where the cap 32 is attached to
the distal end portion body 30. In the state where the cap 32 is
attached, reclining of the elevator 46 is regulated by the
partition wall portion 32B. Moreover, the cap 32 is made of a
material with an elastic force or silicone rubber, for example, and
by fitting a small diameter portion with a small inner diameter
provided on a proximal end of the cap 32 into a groove formed in
the distal end portion body 30, the cap 32 is detachably attached
to the distal end portion body 30.
[0039] The distal end portion body 30 is constituted by a metal
with good erosion resistance such as stainless steel, and the
elevator housing slit 38 (see FIGS. 2 to 4) is provided at a center
position of the distal end portion body 30. This elevator housing
slit 38 forms a space portion which houses the elevator 46. As
illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, opening portions 38a, 38b, and 38c
are opened and extends from the upper surface of the distal end
portion body 30 (on the forceps (treatment tool) exit port side
from the rotating shaft 42a of the elevator 46 as a starting point)
to the lower surface (on a side opposite to the forceps (treatment
tool) derivation direction from the rotating shaft 42a as the
starting point) through the front surface (distal end side of the
distal end portion body 30). Moreover, the distal end portion body
30 has a pair of side wall portions 41a and 41b faced with each
other having the elevator housing slit 38 between them.
[0040] In FIGS. 2 to 4, in order to explicitly illustrate the
opening portions 38a, 38b, and 38c, illustration of the cap 32, the
elevator erecting lever 42, the elevator 46 and the like is omitted
as appropriate.
[0041] As described above, in the endoscope 10 according to this
embodiment, since the opening portions 38a, 38b, and 38c extending
from the upper surface to the lower surface through the front
surface are formed in the elevator housing slit 38, the exposed
range of the elevator 46 is large, and the workability at the time
of disassembling and assembling of the distal end portion is
favorable. In addition, the distal end portion can be cleaned
rapidly and easily.
[0042] Moreover, a treatment-tool insertion channel, not shown,
communicates with the elevator housing slit 38. This treatment-tool
insertion channel is inserted into the insertion portion 12 of the
endoscope 10 and is connected to the treatment-tool entry port 22
of the operation portion 14. As a result, when the treatment tool
is inserted into the treatment-tool insertion channel from the
treatment-tool entry port 22, the treatment tool is guided to the
elevator housing slit 38. The guided treatment tool is erected by
the elevator 46 and is led out upward from the opening window
32A.
[0043] In one side wall portion 41a of the elevator housing slit
38, on a surface on a side opposite to the elevator 46, an
erecting-lever housing chamber 40 is provided, and inside this
erecting-lever housing chamber 40, an elevator erecting lever 42
which causes the elevator 46 to swing is housed. Moreover, on the
side wall portion 41b on the side opposite to the erecting-lever
housing chamber 40 having the elevator housing slit 38 between
them, an optical-system housing chamber 47 is provided.
[0044] The optical-system housing chamber 47 is closed by attaching
a protective cover, not shown, to the distal end portion body 30. A
joint surface between the distal end portion body 30 and the
protective cover is joined through a sealing agent, whereby a gap
between the distal end portion body 30 and the protective cover is
sealed, and airtightness of the optical-system housing chamber 47
is held.
[0045] On the upper part of the optical-system housing chamber 47,
an illumination window 34 and the observation window 36 are
disposed, and an air/water supply port, not shown, is provided
toward the observation window 36. The air/water supply port is
connected to an external device through an air/water supply tube
(not shown) inserted into the insertion portion 12. Compressed air
or water is injected from the air/water supply port toward the
observation window 36 by operating the air/water supply button 21a
of the operation portion 14, and the observation window 36 is
cleaned. The illumination window 34, the observation window 36, and
the air/water supply port are provided at a position facing the
opening window 32A when the cap 32 is placed over the distal end
portion body 30. Hereinafter, a surface on which the observation
window 36 is disposed is referred to as an upper surface, and an
observation direction observed from the observation window 36 is
referred to as an upward.
[0046] Inside the optical-system housing chamber 47, an imaging
optical system and an illumination optical system, not shown, are
housed. The illumination optical system includes an illumination
lens (not shown) which is installed on an inner side of the
illumination window 34 and a light guide which is arranged so that
a distal end the light guide faces this illumination lens. The
light guide is inserted into the insertion portion 12 of the
endoscope 10 and the proximal end portion thereof is connected to
the light source device, not shown. As a result, an illumination
light from the light source device is transmitted through the light
guide and is projected upward from the illumination window 34.
[0047] The imaging optical system includes an objective lens
disposed on an inner side of the observation window 36 and a CCD
unit (Charge Coupled Device unit), not shown, disposed in the rear
of this objective lens through a prism. The CCD unit is connected
to an image processing device, not shown, through a cable. By means
of this imaging optical system, a subject image taken in from the
observation window 36 is converted to an electric signal and
transmitted to the image processing device (processor) connected to
the endoscope 10 and the subject image is displayed on a monitor
through the image processing device.
[0048] On the other hand, the erecting-lever housing chamber 40 is
closed by placing a protective plate, not shown, over the distal
end portion body 30. The protective plate is screwed to the distal
end portion body 30 at a plurality of spots (not shown), and a gap
between the protective plate and the distal end portion body 30 is
filled with a sealing agent. As a result, airtightness of the
erecting-lever housing chamber 40 is maintained.
<Configuration of Elevator Erecting Lever and Elevator>
[0049] Inside the erecting lever housing chamber 40, the elevator
erecting lever 42 is provided (see FIGS. 2 and 4). As illustrated
in FIG. 4, the rotating shaft 42a provided on a lower end portion
of the elevator erecting lever 42 is inserted into a circular hole
41, pivotally supported in a rotatable manner with respect to the
distal end portion body 30, and constitutes the rotating shaft of
the elevator 46.
[0050] FIGS. 5A and 5B are views illustrating a shape of the
elevator erecting lever 42. As illustrated in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B,
the elevator erecting lever 42 has the rotating shaft 42a having a
circular section, and on a distal end of this rotating shaft 42a, a
shaft distal end portion 42b having a rectangular section in a
direction perpendicular to the rotating shaft 42a is formed.
[0051] On the other hand, FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a shape of
the elevator 46. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, the rotating
shaft receiving portion 46a is provided on the elevator 46. The
rotating shaft receiving portion 46a has a rotating shaft housing
groove 46b opened on a side (upper surface side) opposite to the
lower surface when the elevator 46 is mounted on the distal end
portion body 30. This rotating shaft housing groove 46b is formed
to have a rectangular shape with the size that can house a shaft
distal end portion 42b of the elevator erecting lever 42.
Therefore, when the shaft distal end portion 42b of the elevator
erecting lever 42 is fitted in the rotating shaft receiving portion
46b of the elevator 46, the elevator erecting lever 42 is coupled
to the elevator 46 and swings integrally with the elevator 46. That
is, in this embodiment, the elevator erecting lever 42 constitutes
an elevator erecting mechanism.
[0052] Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a distal-end-side
coupling portion 44a of the operation wire 44 is coupled to an
upper end portion 42c of the elevator erecting lever 42, and this
operation wire 44 is inserted into the insertion portion 12, and
the proximal-end-side coupling portion is coupled to the operation
lever 20 of the operation portion 14. Therefore, by
rotating/operating the operation lever 20, the operation wire 44 is
push or pulled so as to rotate the elevator erecting lever 42, and
as a result, the elevator 46 is displaced (erected or
reclined).
<Connection State Between the Elevator Erecting Lever and
Elevator>
[0053] FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the distal end
portion 12a in a state in which the elevator erecting lever 42 and
the elevator 46 are coupled to each other, and the cap 32 is
attached to the distal end portion body 30, and FIG. 8 is a
partially enlarged view of the sectional view illustrated in FIG.
7.
[0054] As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the endoscope 10
according to this embodiment, assuming that a thickness between a
bottom surface of the rotating shaft housing groove 46b and a
surface faced with the lower surface of the distal end portion body
30 is "a", a gap distance between the rotating shaft 42a and the
partition wall portion 32B of the cap 32 is "b", a depth of the
rotating shaft housing groove 46b is "c", and in a proximal end
side thickness (a distance between the side wall surface on the
proximal end side of the rotating shaft housing groove 46b and the
proximal end of the elevator 46 in a direction (right-and-left
direction in a state illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8) connecting the
distal end side and the proximal end side of the elevator 46) of
the rotating shaft receiving portion 46a is "d", the following
conditional expressions (1) to (3) are satisfied:
a<b (1)
a+c>b (2)
b>d (3)
In this embodiment, since the thickness a of the rotating shaft
housing groove 46b is smaller than the gap distance b between the
rotating shaft 42a and the partition wall portion 32B of the cap 32
from the conditional expression (1), the elevator 46 can be housed
in the cap 32, and since the sum of the thickness a and the depth c
of the rotating shaft housing groove 46b is larger than the gap
distance b from the conditional expression (2), removal of the
elevator 46 to the direction of the lower surface is regulated.
Therefore, at an angle (a range in which a reclining angle is
smaller than a first reclining position which will be described
later) of the elevator 46 when the erecting operation of the
treatment tool is performed, the elevator 46 is not removed (comes
off) structurally. Moreover, since the thicknesses a and d of the
elevator are smaller than the gap distance b from the conditional
expressions (1) and (3), the elevator 46 can be rotated in a state
in which the cap 32 is attached to the distal end portion body 30.
An end portion 46c of the elevator 46 is machined having a curved
shape with a distance from the rotating shaft housing groove 46b
not more than d so that the end portion 46c is not brought into
contact with the partition wall portion 32B of the cap 32 when the
elevator 46 is rotated.
<Attachment and Removal of Elevator>
[0055] At the angle of the elevator 46 when the erecting operation
of the treatment tool is performed as described above, the elevator
46 is not removed structurally, and thus, removal of the elevator
46 from the distal end portion body 30 is performed by displacing
the elevator 46 outside a reclining range (a first position or a
second position which will be described later, see FIGS. 9 and 11)
in the normal use. Moreover, attachment of the elevator 46 to the
distal end portion body 30 is performed by housing the elevator 46
in the elevator housing slit 38 and fitting the shaft distal end
portion 42b of the elevator erecting lever 42 with the rotating
shaft receiving portion 46b of the elevator 46 (see FIG. 4). Such
attachment of the elevator 46 can be also performed in a state
corresponding to the first position or the second position.
<Reclining Position of Elevator>
[0056] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating the distal end portion 12a in
a state in which the elevator 46 is at the first reclining position
(a position where the cap 32 is attached to the distal end portion
body 30 and immediately before the elevator 46 is reclined toward
the distal end side and is brought into contact with the partition
wall portion 32B of the cap 32). The endoscope 10 is used in a
state in which the erecting lever housing chamber 40 is covered by
a protective plate as described above, but in FIG. 9, in order to
explicitly illustrate the reclining state of the elevator erecting
lever 42, the protective plate is not shown, and the erecting lever
housing chamber 40 covered with the protective plate and the
elevator erecting lever 42 and the like are indicated by dot lines
(the same applies to FIGS. 10 and 11). In FIG. 9, the cap 32 is not
shown, and in FIG. 10, the cap 32 is shown. As described above, the
opening portions 38a, 38b, and 38c which extend from the upper
surface to the lower surface through the front surface in the
elevator housing slit 38 are formed. The reclining of the elevator
46 is restricted by the partition wall portion 32B in the normal
use as described above. Moreover, since a stopper mechanism 60
(which will be described later) is provided on the operation
portion 14, the elevator 46 is prevented from reclining toward the
lower surface side larger than (over) the state illustrated in
FIGS. 9 and 10.
[0057] On the other hand, FIG. 11 illustrates a state in which the
cap 32 is removed, and moreover, the elevator 46 is displaced
(further reclined toward the lower surface side) toward a side
opposite to the erecting position larger than the state (first
reclining position) in FIGS. 9 and 10 so as to be at the second
reclining position by a second operation (which will be described
later) of the operation lever 20. In the state in FIG. 11, exposure
of the elevator 46 (exposure of the side surface portion) from the
elevator housing slit 38 increases more than the state in FIGS. 9
and 10, and thus, a range that can be gripped by the hand of the
operator or a jig increases, and attachment and removal of the
elevator 46 to and from the distal end portion body 30 can be
performed rapidly and easily.
<Elevator Erecting Lever and Reclining Angle of Elevator>
[0058] As illustrated in FIG. 9, in the endoscope 10 according to
this embodiment, a reclining angle .theta.1 of the elevator 46 is
larger than a reclining angle .theta.2 (an angle based on a
direction L orthogonal to the axial direction of the endoscope 10)
of the elevator erecting lever 42 (.theta.1>.theta.2). Assuming
that the reclining angle .theta.1.ltoreq..theta.2, in order to
largely recline the elevator 46 (to the second reclining position
illustrated in FIG. 10, for example), the elevator erecting lever
42 also needs to be largely reclined. Therefore, the erecting-lever
housing chamber 40 should be made large in order to ensure a
rotation space of the elevator erecting lever 42. However, in the
endoscope 10 according to this embodiment, by setting the reclining
angles .theta.1 and .theta.2 in a relation as described above, the
reclining angle .theta.1 of the elevator 46 can be made larger than
the reclining angle .theta.2 of the elevator erecting lever 42, and
the rotation space of the elevator erecting lever 42 is reduced,
and the erecting lever housing chamber 40 and the distal end
portion body 30 including it and the distal end portion 12a can be
downsized.
<Stopper Mechanism>
[0059] Subsequently, a stopper mechanism (locking mechanism) of the
elevator will be described. FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram
illustrating a structure of the stopper mechanism 60. As
illustrated in FIG. 12, in the endoscope 10, a movable portion 62
which is rotatable around an axis AX in conjunction with (in
interlock with) the rotating operation of the operation lever 20 is
provided in the operation portion 14, and to a lower surface of
this movable portion 62, a plate spring 64 including a projection
64a is attached. On the other hand, on a fixed portion 68 provided
in a fixed manner on the body side of the operation portion 14, a
stopper 68a is provided on a surface facing the movable portion
62.
[0060] The stopper 68a is provided at a position PMAX corresponding
to the first reclining position of the elevator 46. Therefore, by
rotating the operation lever 20 so as to allow the projection 64a
to engage with the stopper 68a, one end of the rotation range of
the elevator 46 is restricted (locked) to the first reclining
position. Such operation of the operation lever 20 is referred to
as the "first operation" hereinafter.
[0061] Therefore, in order to make the elevator 46 further recline
over the first reclining position, an operation different from the
rotating operation in the normal use of the operation lever 20 (an
operation to intentionally apply a force larger than the normal use
to further recline the elevator 46: hereinafter referred to as the
"second operation") needs to be performed to the operation lever
20, and thus, the reclining from the first reclining position
toward the second reclining position (position further displaced to
a side opposite to the erecting position from the first reclining
position; the state illustrated in FIG. 11) is restricted, and
unintended reclining of the elevator 46 and resulting breakage of
the cap 32 can be prevented. Moreover, by performing the second
operation, the projection 64a rides over the stopper 68a, and
engagement between the projection 64a and stopper 68a is unlocked,
whereby the elevator 46 is reclined (larger than) over the first
reclining position to reach the second reclining position. In this
state, the exposure of the elevator 46 from the elevator housing
slit 38 (exposure of the side surface portion) is larger than the
states in FIGS. 9 and 10, and attachment and removal of the
elevator 46 to and from the distal end portion body 30 can be
performed rapidly and easily.
[0062] In the stopper mechanism 60, the number and size of the
projection 64a or the stopper 68a may be determined in accordance
with intensity of a required locking force.
Effects of this Embodiment
[0063] As described above, in the endoscope 10 according to this
embodiment, attachment and removal of the elevator 46 to and from
the distal end portion body 30 can be performed rapidly and easily,
and workability of disassembling and assembling of the distal end
portion 12a is favorable. Moreover, as a result, the distal end
portion 12a can be cleaned rapidly and easily.
<Another Invention>
[0064] Subsequently, an endoscope according to another invention
other than the present invention will be described. In the
embodiment of the present invention, the rotating shaft housing
groove 46b of the elevator 46 and the rotating-shaft distal end
portion 42b of the elevator erecting lever 42 are fitted together,
but in the another invention, a mode of connection between the
elevator 46 and the elevator erecting lever 42 is different from
the present invention. An embodiment of a shape of the elevator in
this another invention is illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 15. In the
endoscope according to the another invention, since the
configuration similar to the present invention can be employed for
those other than the shape of the elevator, detailed explanation
will be omitted.
[0065] FIG. 13 is a view illustrating an elevator 50 as an
embodiment of the another invention. In the elevator 50, an
elevator body 50a and a clip 50b (a circle mark portion in FIG. 13)
are integrated by bonding or the like, and the elevator 50 is
attached and fixed to the elevator erecting lever 42 by using
elastic deformation and an urging force of the clip 50b to the
rotating-shaft distal end portion 42b. Specifically, in the
elevator 50, the clip 50b is fitted with the shaft distal end
portion 42b and attached to the elevator erecting lever 42. At this
time, since the clip 50b is elastically deformed by the
rotating-shaft distal end portion 42b and presses the
rotating-shaft distal end portion 42b by the urging force after the
attachment from the upper surface side and lower surface side, the
elevator 50 can be fixed to the elevator erecting lever 42.
Moreover, by constituting such that the clip 50b is elastically
deformable more largely than the rotating-shaft distal end portion
42b, the elevator 50 can be removed from the elevator erecting
lever 42. A mode of such attachment and removal, and fixation is
similar to elevators 52 and 54 illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15.
[0066] FIG. 14 is a view illustrating the elevator 52 as another
embodiment of another invention. In the elevator 52, a plate spring
52b is integrated with an elevator body 52a by welding, and the
elevator 52 is attached and fixed to the elevator erecting lever 42
by using elastic deformation and an urging force of the plate
spring 52b applied to the rotating-shaft distal end portion
42b.
[0067] FIG. 15 is a view illustrating the elevator 54 as still
another embodiment of another invention. In the elevator 54, a
plate spring 54b is integrated with the an elevator body 54a by
screwing, and the elevator 54 is attached and fixed to the elevator
erecting lever 42 by using elastic deformation and an urging force
of the plate spring 54b applied to the rotating-shaft distal end
portion 42b. The mode illustrated in FIG. 15 can further improve
strength than the mode in FIG. 14.
[0068] In the elevators 50, 52, and 54 of the modes, the clip 50b,
the plate springs 52b and 54b are elastically deformed by the
rotating-shaft distal end portion 42b and thus, attachment and
removal to and from the shaft distal end portion 42b is easy,
workability of disassembling and assembling of the distal end
portion 12a is favorable, and reliable fixation to the shaft distal
end portion 42b can be realized by the urging forces of the clip
50b, the plate springs 52b and 54b. In each of the modes of another
invention described above, intensities of the elastic deformation
and the urging forces of the clip 50b, the plate springs 52b and
54b can be determined in accordance with a demand for easiness of
attachment and removal, or strength of fixation of the elevators
50, 52, and 54 to the elevator erecting lever 42.
[0069] The present invention and another invention are not limited
to the embodiments described above but are capable of various
variations within a range not departing from the spirit of each
invention.
* * * * *